Juno snaps a pic of Jupiter before it reaches the gas giant
NASA’s Juno spacecraft is diving into Jupiter’s orbit in a few days’ time, five years after it blasted off its launching pad in Cape Canaveral. The gas giant is merely a stone’s throw away, and this image captured by the probe’s camera, the JunoCam, shows just how close it is to reaching its destination. Juno took a photo of the planet and its four biggest moons on June 21st, while it was 6.8 million miles away. That might sound like it’s still awfully far, but don’t forget that the probe will have traveled 1.74 billion miles by the time it enters Jupiter’s orbit on July 4th. JunoCam could only manage a hazy photo at that point in time, but you can still make out Jupiter’s bands. You can also see four dots on one side of the picture, which are actually the Galilean satellites Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto.
To prepare for the start of the mission, a team of astronomers also used the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope to create infrared maps of Jupiter, such as the one we’ve embedded below. According to team leader Leigh Fletcher, “These maps will help set the scene for what Juno will witness in the coming months.”
If you’re now asking “What will Juno see in the coming months, anyway?” Well, NASA equipped the spacecraft with various infrared and microwave instruments. The observations it beams back will help the agency study its composition and magnetic fields, assess the presence of water and oxygen content, as well as figure out the planet’s origin.
[Image credit: ESO/L. Fletcher]
Source: NASA, ESO
ICYMI: Pinterest’s photo recognition and light exosuits
Today on In Case You Missed It: Pinterest wants users to shop for items by taking pictures, then uploading to the site to find similar items. Carnegie Mellon University invented an exoskeleton component that would lighten suits and make them far easier to walk around in, minus the bulky metal frames.
NASA tested a rocket booster this week that may one day go to Mars. As always, please share any interesting tech or science videos you find by using the #ICYMI hashtag on Twitter for @mskerryd.
Google’s Spanish offices raided in tax investigation
Google is no stranger to tax investigations, but in recent months, European investigators have taken things up a notch. Coming just a month after tax inspectors raided the company’s French HQ, Spanish officials today cast the spotlight on its operations in Madrid as part of an ongoing probe into its tax contributions.
TechCrunch reports that the raids on the search giant’s Madrid HQ and Google Campus are related to “VAT payments and non-residence tax.” Google, however, is adamant it has done nothing wrong and issued the following statement: “We comply with Spanish tax laws just as we do in all countries where we operate. We are co-operating with the authorities in Spain in order to answer all their questions, as always.”
Google’s European tax practices have come under fire because the company reports the majority of its sales in Ireland, allowing it to enjoy a lower tax rate thanks to loopholes in international tax laws. In January, it announced it would pay the UK government £130 million (around $185 million) in back taxes, but French Finance Minister Michel Sapin has already ruled out a similar deal over the €1.6 billion in back taxes (roughly $1.76 billion) the company reportedly owes.
Via: The Guardian
Source: TechCrunch
Amazon Sets Second Annual ‘Prime Day’ for July 12
Following last summer’s inaugural, one-day sale event called “Prime Day,” Amazon this morning confirmed that it will be bringing back the Black Friday-like discounts this summer on July 12 (via Fortune). The company is referring to the second entry of Prime Day as the “biggest Amazon event ever,” exceeding over 100,000 deals when it launches at midnight PT on the 12th.
As last year, Prime Day is exclusive to those members who subscribe to Amazon Prime, the online retailer’s $99-per-year service which nets users access to exclusive Amazon video series, free two-day shipping, and one-hour delivery on certain orders. The company said last year that its first Prime Day broke sales records set on Black Friday in 2014, and with new deals popping up “as often as every five minutes” this year, it hopes to set a new record again in 2016.
Prime Day is a one-day only global shopping event exclusively for Prime members. On Tuesday, July 12, the second annual Prime Day will be the biggest global Amazon event ever. Members in the U.S. can shop starting at midnight PT, with new deals starting as often as every five minutes throughout the day.
With 100,000 deals exclusively for Prime members, across nearly all departments and product categories in ten countries, there will be something for everyone. In fact on the first annual Prime Day in 2015, worldwide members ordered 398 items per second, exceeding Black Friday records at the time.
Amazon is also promising greater inventory this time around, including a TV stock that is “double what it had for Black Friday and Cyber Monday combined last year.” Increasing the catalog of top tier items is most likely a reaction to last year’s Prime Day, which had copious sales, but saw the best products selling out fast and ending with a collection of random, unwanted marked-down items.
The company is giving members a way to combat missing out on items with new deal alerts as well, which will be sent out via its Amazon app [Direct Link]. Amazon encourages users who want more information to visit its Help page to prepare for Prime Day, and follow these steps to set up notifications for specific deals on its app.
Tag: Amazon
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Take advantage of the Oculus Summer Sale to add some VR games to your collection
It’s time to take full advantage of the currently ongoing Oculus Summer Sale, which will bag you some VR games for your Gear VR from as little as 79p. As noted over on Hot UK Deals, the promotion itself ends on July 5 and you’ll be able to pick up titles like Into The Dead and EVE: Gunjack to bolster your selection of games.
Here’s a full list of games included in the Oculus Summer Sale:
- EVE: Gunjack – £3.99
- Lands End – £1.49
- Bandit Six – 79p
- Bandit Six Salvo – 79p
- Twisted Realms – £1.49
- Anshar Wars 2 – £3.99
- Into The Dead – £3.49
- Hitman GO VR – £3.99
- Drift – £5.35
- Dead Secret – £5.35
- Dreadhalls – £2.79
- Herobound Spirit Champion – £3.99
- Darknet – £4.99
- End Space – £4.49
- Tactera – £5.99
- Archer E Bowman – £2.29
View Oculus Summer Sale
As noted above, you’ll need to hurry as this promotion will come to an end on July 5.
Quick comparison: 2016’s mid-range Android challengers
It’s a great time to buy a mid-range phone.
With the unveiling of the Honor 5C and Wileyfox Spark in Europe this past week, and the imminent arrival of the Sony Xperia XA and ASUS Zenfone 3 internationally, the mid-range market continues to be one of the most competitive spaces for Android phones. With many such handsets launching this summer, we’ve rounded up the top six to see how they compare on paper.
You’ll find out spec showdown down below, along with links to our hands-on coverage with each of these promising mid-level handsets!
| Operating System | Android 6.0.1 | Android 6.0.1 | Android 6.0EMUI 4.1 | Android 6.0.1CyanogenOS 13 | Android 6.0.1ZenUI 3 | Android 6.0.1 |
| Display | 5.5-inch 1080p | 5.2-inch 1080p | 5.2-inch 1080p | 5.5-inch 720p | 5.5-inch 1080p | 5-inch 720p |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 | Hisilicon Kirin 650 | MediaTek MT6735 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 | MediaTek Helio P10 |
| RAM | 2GB | 3GB | 2GB | 2GB | 4GB | 2GB |
| Storage | 16GB | 16GB | 16GB | 16GB | 32GB | 16GB |
| micro-SD | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Rear Camera | 13MP | 13MP | 13MP | 13MP | 16MP OIS, Laser AF | 13MP |
| Front Camera | 5MP | 8MP | 8MP | 8MP | 8MP | 8MP |
| Battery | 3000mAh | 2610mAh | 3000mAh | 3000mAh | 3000mAh | 2300mAh |
| Charging | Turbo Charging | QuickCharge 2.0 | 5V/2A | 5V/1A | Unknown (no QuickCharge) | Pump Express+ 2.0 |
| Dimensions | 153 x 76.6 x 7.9mm | 147 x 72.5 x 7.1 mm | 147.1 x 73.8 x 8.3mm | 154.35×78.6×8.75mm | 152.6 x 77.4 x 7.7 mm | 143.6 x 66.8 x 7.9 mm |
| Weight | 155g | 135g | 156g | 163g | 155g | 138g |
| Fingerprint | No | No | No (except Chinese model) | No | Yes | No |
| Materials | Plastic | Glass/Metal | Plastic/Metal | Plastic | Glass/Metal | Plastic |
| Price | £159$199 | £229~$300 (import) | £149~$200 (import) | £129~$175 (import) | ~£230 (import)$299 | £249$279.99 |
Moto G4
The fourth-generation Moto G ups the screen size, CPU and battery capacity, but loses last year’s water resistance. Beyond that, Moto continues to strike a decent balance between cost and hardware muscle, with a muted plastic design on the outside, but important software differentiators like Moto Display lurking within.
MORE: Our review of the G4’s big brother, the Moto G4 Plus
Alcatel Idol 4
Alcatel’s successor to its popular Idol 3 ditches the plastic altogether, with a new glass and metal chassis echoing some of Samsung’s recent smartphone designs. Another unique feature sees the company using a fully reversible speaker system, so you can have stereo output whichever way the phone’s facing. Meanwhile the programmable “Boom key” can help you quickly launch the camera, boost your bass or enhance screen visibility.
MORE: Our hands-on preview of the Alcatel Idol 4 series
Honor 5C
Huawei-owned Honor brings a metal-backed design to its most affordable handset of 2016, which also features a new, efficient Kirin 650 processor and a 1080p display. This £149 handset also boasts an large (for this class of phone, anyway) 3,000mAh battery and the cleanest version of Huawei’s EMUI software to date. And around the back, a surprisingly capable 13-megapixel shooter benefits from many of the software features of more expensive Huawei phones.
MORE: Our hands-on preview of the Honor 5C
Wileyfox Spark X
The most expensive member of Wileyfox’s latest Spark range sells for just £129, and includes a 5.5-inch display, a 3,000mAh battery and a clean, feature-packed software experience from Cyanogen. It’s a relatively no-frills experience, but the cheapest handset in our mid-range roundup has a promising spec sheet and a proven software setup, not to mention unassuming but sturdy build quality.
MORE: Our hands-on preview of the entire Spark range
ASUS ZenFone 3
ASUS steps things up a notch for the most affordable of its ZenFone 3 series phones, priced at $299 in the U.S. The ZenFone 3 brings a glass and metal design, fingerprint security and a really impressive 16-megapixel camera experience, backed up by optical image stabilization, phase detect autofocus, laser autofocus and dual LED flash. ASUS’s ZenUI software may be an acquired taste, but you can’t argue with the value on offer here.
MORE: Our preview of all ASUS’s ZenFone 3 series phones
Sony Xperia XA
The entry-level phone in Sony’s new Xperia X series maintains the design language of its more expensive siblings, but in a plastic-bodied chassis with a few hardware trade-offs. Still, you’re getting a 1080p handset with a 13-megapixel camera and Sony’s imaging chops for under $280, which isn’t at all bad.
MORE: Our hands-on preview of the Sony Xperia XA
Will you be picking up any of this year’s mid-range Android phones? Let us know which one down in the comments!
Amazon Prime Day makes its triumphant return on July 12
Amazon is bringing back Prime Day, the day in which it offers an abundance of awesome deals for Prime members. Beginning July 5 Amazon will begin running a number of specials leading up to the big day, which will be July 12. Last year the retailer slashed pricing on Chromebooks, Kindles, televisions, security cameras and more.
Remember, you will need to be a member of Amazon’s Prime program. If you don’t happen to already be one, you can sign up for a 30-day free trial so you can take advantage of the deals and test the membership out.
Amazon will also be offering some awesome promotions around Amazon Prime Music, which can score you a complete musical experience with artists like Carrie Underwood, Blink-182, Flo Rida and more. You can also sign up for a 30-day trial of the music service for your chance to win one of these amazing packages.
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- Get a free 30-day Amazon Prime trial
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- Best movies to stream on Prime Video
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What bands are supported in the U.S. unlocked Samsung Galaxy S7?
Pretty much all the bands are supported in the Samsung Galaxy S7. Thanks for asking.
The thing about having a SIM-unlocked smartphone is that it still has to be able to support the bands — that is the radio frequencies — of wherever it is you’re trying to use it. And the unlocked Galaxy S7 and GS7 edge that Samsung has released in the United States pretty much has ’em all.
Here are the bands supported by the U.S. unlocked Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge:
| CDMA 1x & EVDO Rev 0/RevA | BC0, BC1, BC10 |
| GSM | Band 2/4/5/8 |
| UMTS | Band 1/2/4/5/8 |
| FDD-LTE | Band 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/18/19/20/25/26/29/30 |
| TDD-LTE | Band 38/39/40/41 |
| TD-SCDMA | Band 34/39 |
Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge
- Galaxy S7 review
- Galaxy S7 edge review
- Here are all four Galaxy S7 colors
- Should you upgrade to the Galaxy S7?
- Learn about the Galaxy S7’s SD card slot
- Join our Galaxy S7 forums
AT&T
Sprint
T-Mobile
Verizon
Samsung gives the U.S. the perfect Galaxy S7 — unlocked!
It’s the best Android phone you can buy, no longer shackled to the U.S. carrier system and weighed down by bloatware.
Samsung, seemingly answering the prayers of many a smartphone nerd, today announced that it is selling the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge in the United States unlocked. That is, they’ll work on any carrier you want, come without a carrier’s preinstalled bloatware, presumably get updates faster — and generally just be more badass.
The unlocked Galaxy S7 costs $669. The unlocked Galaxy S7 edge runs $769. The phones will be sold directly by Samsung, as well as at Amazon, Best Buy, eBay, Sam’s Club and online from Target. Select distributors also will have access to the unlocked GS7.
A SIM-unlocked phone is less of an aberration in the United States than it used to be. But Samsung — the world’s leading Android smartphone manufacturer — has mostly kept to the carrier system over the years. If you wanted a top-end Galaxy phone that wasn’t tied to one of the U.S. operators and shackled by their own software hangups, you’d have to import from another country with compatible radio bands. These U.S.-specific unlocked phones will work on AT&T, Verizon, Sprint or T-Mobile — and generally speaking any of the smaller operators.
The overall specs remain the same. That means 32 gigabytes of on-board storage (22 of which are accessible to you out of the box, after app updates), supplemented by a microSD card. It’s got a Snapdragon 820 processor and 4GB of RAM, and the best 13MP camera you can find on a phone. The GS7 sports a 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display and 3000 mAh battery. The larger GS7 edge has a 5.5-inch display and a 3600 mAh battery. The two phones have lived atop our list of the best Android phones you can buy since their release in the spring.
And now that they’re unlocked? Basically, we’ve got the perfect Galaxy S7.
We’ve spent the better part of a day with the unlocked Galaxy S7 edge. And guess what. It’s an unlocked Galaxy S7 edge. Other than the fact that it’s missing out on carrier bloatware and can basically work anywhere you want — including on China’s TDD-LTE bands — it’s exactly the same phone you can get from a carrier. So on one hand you’re not really missing out on too much if you’re a homebody. But if you spent a lot of time outside the U.S., you’ve got a ridiculous amount of options here. I’ve got a T-Mobile SIM in it right now, and Wi-Fi Calling works out of the box as well.
More: Full list of network bands in the U.S. unlocked Galaxy S7
Every network band you need, and none of the bloatware you don’t.
The software experience is exactly the same, too. Well, again, minus the annoying custom carrier stuff. So setup is a little quicker and a little less duplicative. You sign in to Google. And sign in to Samsung’s services. Set up a PIN or password, and enroll fingerprints, if you want. And that’s it. You get Google’s apps. (Minus anything no longer considered top tier, like Google+ or Fit.) You get Samsung Pay and S Voice and — wait a minute. Things are a little different. At setup you’ll be asked if you want to also install things like the calculator and the Samsung+ support app, plus Samsung’s e-mail app, S Health, Memo and Samsung’s browser. (If you opt to not install those apps, the GS7 warns you that “You do not have any applications installed.” Cheeky.)
In any event, if one of Samsung’s apps is missing and you just have to have it, you should be able to find it in Samsung’s “Galaxy Apps” store.
After that, you’re in business. It’s a minimalist Galaxy S7, insofar as Samsung does anything minimal. (Which is to say, still bigger and better than most.) We’ll be spending some more time with this U.S. unlocked Galaxy S7 edge and will update you should we find anything else surprising. But for now, we’re just going to enjoy using a phone we wish we’d been able to buy back in March.
Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge
- Galaxy S7 review
- Galaxy S7 edge review
- Here are all four Galaxy S7 colors
- Should you upgrade to the Galaxy S7?
- Learn about the Galaxy S7’s SD card slot
- Join our Galaxy S7 forums
AT&T
Sprint
T-Mobile
Verizon
Press release:
Samsung Introduces Unlocked Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge in the U.S.
Compatible with most U.S. networks, gives more customers access to ‘A Galaxy of Possibility’
NEW YORK – June 30, 2016 – Samsung Electronics America, Inc. announced today the launch of network unlocked versions of the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge in the U.S. Available starting today, June 30, the unlocked Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge work on most U.S. GSM and CDMA networks1 and put the Galaxy of products, services and experiences within reach of every U.S. customer. The unlocked smartphones are available for purchase on Target’s website or from top retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy, Ebay, Sam’s Club and http://Target.com. The unlocked Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge are also available from four distributors, including Ingram Micro Inc., SYNNEX Corporation, Tech Data and Vertex Wireless.
“At Samsung, we listen to our customers to deliver meaningful innovation by offering an ecosystem of mobile products, services and experiences designed to enhance their mobile lifestyle,” said Tim Baxter, president of Samsung Electronics America. “The unlocked Galaxy S7 and S7 edge offer more U.S. customers a way to join the Galaxy family, giving them access to a portfolio of seamless mobile experiences including connectivity to wearables, making payments right from your phone and even virtual reality worlds.”
The unlocked versions of these smartphones offer the same cutting-edge design and innovative features as the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge launched earlier this year. With water and dust resistance2, an advanced camera, fast wireless charging3, Always-On Display, Samsung KNOX and unparalleled connectivity to a galaxy of products, services and experiences, the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge are redefining what users can do with their smartphones.
High Quality Photos No Matter the Conditions
Combining blink-of-an-eye autofocus for fewer blurry photos, superior low-light photography and significant advancements in video capture, the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge give users a chance to capture every memory reliably and true to life. Central to this performance is the groundbreaking dual-pixel technology in the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge rear cameras. The dual-pixel sensor, wider F1.7 aperture, and bigger pixels work together to capture 95 percent more light4 which makes sharp and beautiful photography possible in the low-light environments where most people take most of their photographs—rendering the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge camera all the more versatile and its photographs all the more stunning.
All-Day Battery Life 5
From charging up to holding the charge, the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge deliver the best battery experience of any Galaxy device. Fast wired and wireless charging allow users to charge their devices quickly, and the large battery capacity of 3,000 mAh for the Galaxy S7 and 3,600 mAh for the Galaxy S7 edge gives users the power to keep going all day long.
Samsung KNOX
The unlocked versions of the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge include Samsung KNOX, the company’s defense-grade mobile security platform, built into the device and implemented at the chip level so the device and data is highly secure from the moment it boots up. For the ‘Bring Your Own Device’ (BYOD) workers, KNOX encrypts work data and personal data separately, providing users with both convenience and peace of mind.
A Galaxy of Possibility
Samsung delivers seamless mobile experiences that enable people to explore, create, move, go and unlock their passions—from being active to stay fit and staying connected while on the go to capturing 360-degree content and discovering new virtual worlds. With the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge at the center, customers will have access to Samsung applications and services like Samsung Pay, Samsung+ and the ability to explore immersive 360-degree content through Samsung Gear VR.
On http://Samsung.com, the unlocked Galaxy S7 is $669.99, and the unlocked Galaxy S7 edge is $769.99.
For more details, visit http://www.samsung.com.
1 – Wireless voice, data and messaging services compatible with GSM networks such as AT&T and T-Mobile and CDMA networks such as Verizon, Sprint and US Cellular®. Support for certain features and services such as VoWiFi and hotspot, vary by wireless service provider. See provider for details.
2 – Water resistant based on IP68 rating, which tests submersion up to 5 feet for up to 30 minutes. Rinse residue/dry after wet.
3 – Fast wireless chargers sold separately.
4 – Compared to Galaxy S6/Galaxy S6 edge camera
5 – Average expected performance based on typical use. Actual battery life depends on factors such as network, features selected, frequency of calls, and voice, data and other application-usage patterns. Results may vary.
BlackBerry Hamburg could be called BlackBerry Neon, first press picture leaks
It has been common knowledge that BlackBerry will release two mid-range Android phones this year, most often called by their codenames, Hamburg and Rome. But a new report claims that the former of the two will actually be called the BlackBerry Neon. And there’s even a leaked image for good measure.
The pic, posted by Twitter user @the_malignant, only shows the rear of a phone, but it not only matches previous rumours, it reveals a very interesting fact. It does seem, if genuine, that the BlackBerry Neon (Hamburg, or whatever you want to call it) will be almost exactly the same as the Alcatel Idol 4.
That supports a story we published on 27 June, that suggested TCL Communication, the company behind Alcatel smartphones, will also be producing the Neon and possibly other BlackBerry devices going forward.
- Alcatel Idol 4 preview image
- It looks like BlackBerry Hamburg won’t even be made by BlackBerry anymore
- BlackBerry Rome and Hamburg: New renders show midrange Android phones
- BlackBerry says it’ll launch two mid-range Android handsets in 2016
The leaked image has many similarities to the Idol 4: camera placement, the flash and even the top and bottom metallic strips and speaker grilles.
That depends, of course, on the validity of the posted picture and we have no official confirmation on that front. It does match multiple sources of speculation though.
Another leak, back in May, also revealed some of the Neon’s (Hamburg’s) specifications.
A 3D graphics benchmark test found on GFXBench suggests that the phone has a 5.2-inch 1080p screen, 1.5GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor, Qualcomm Adreno 405 graphics, 3GB of RAM, 16GB of storage and a 12-megapixel rear camera. The camera on the front is 7-megapixels, it says.
These are similar but not identical to the Idol 4, so you might notice some differences.
We’re not yet sure when BlackBerry plans to launch its new device or the BlackBerry Rome, but we do know the company plans for them to be in the $300-$400 mark.
